Bayside Quilters Celebrate America’s 250 with Display at the Library
Bayside Quilters of the Eastern Shore is displaying more than 35 quilts at the Easton Branch of the Talbot County Free Library from June 1 through August 28.
The quilts are patriotic-themed to commemorate and celebrate the semiquincentennial of the United States of America. This doesn’t just mean red, white and blue. You’ll find lots of variety in the quilts hanging from the rafters and the walls.
“We’re excited to have the opportunity to share our work,” says Anita Brayton, who organized the exhibit and is the guild historian. “All the work on display is truly art, and our members are eager to share their work and encourage others to enjoy or join in this textile art form.
“Quilting has a long history throughout the world. The first quilts came to America from Europe and were whole cloth quilts. Patchwork is distinctly American, and you’ll see examples of this in the exhibit. Another type of quilt known to this area is Baltimore Album applique quilts. You’ll see examples of applique in the exhibit also. We even have a flag quilt made from fabric yo-yos.”
The quilts will be on display during regular library hours and free to view. At the end of the exhibit, some of the quilts will be donated to local veterans at Talbot Hospice.
Bayside Quilters has a very active outreach program. In addition to the outreach with veterans through hospice, the members donate many quilts to children in the area. Most recently they donated 30 quilts to Talbot County Early Head Start, enough for every child in the facility. They also filled the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, which opens in May in Queenstown, with quilts and pillowcases for each camper to take home.
Bayside Quilters of the Eastern Shore is a 501(c3) charity committed to the creation, study, and sharing of quilts and quilt making. The Bayside Quilters of the Eastern Shore meets monthly on the second Wednesday at 9 am at the Trappe Volunteer Fire Department. For more information, go to www.baysidequilters.com